If you lead a company that uses trucks, there’s one number from this year’s Brake Safety Week that should make you pause: 15.1%.
That’s how many commercial vehicles across North America were pulled out of service for brake-related violations this August.
Fifteen percent.
In business terms, that’s 15 out of every 100 trucks not delivering, not producing, and not earning — all because of preventable mechanical and procedural failures. And when you multiply that across hundreds of fleets, the impact is massive: missed loads, rescheduled contracts, higher insurance premiums, and a damaged brand reputation.
For leaders, that’s not just a maintenance issue. That’s an operational wake-up call.
The Numbers That Should Make You Pay Attention
From August 24–30, 2025, inspectors across 52 jurisdictions in North America conducted 15,175 commercial motor vehicle inspections as part of the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s (CVSA) annual Brake Safety Week initiative.
The results?
⭐ 84.9% passed.
⭐ 15.1% — 2,296 vehicles — failed due to brake-related violations.
And that failure rate isn’t just a blip. Historically, CVSA’s annual campaigns have shown failure rates between 12% and 14%. In 2025, it climbed higher — signaling a troubling trend for companies that assume “what worked last year will pass this year.”
For decision-makers, that means one thing: inspection standards are evolving faster than many fleets are adapting.
Why Leaders Should Care
Brake Safety Week isn’t just about safety for safety’s sake — it’s a leadership metric. It reveals whether your processes, people, and systems are as tight as your profit margins.
Inspectors aren’t just looking at brake pads and hoses; they’re evaluating how well your organization maintains accountability.
If you manage people who drive, maintain, or schedule trucks, this event is essentially your annual audit without the invoice.
It’s the one time a year when your company’s safety culture meets reality.
Passing is great. But what happens when you don’t?
That’s when leadership decisions start costing — in time, money, and reputation. Because when a truck goes down, it’s not just downtime. It’s payroll hours wasted, client confidence lost, and management trust questioned.
What Inspectors Found (And What It Says About Your Operations)
The top reason trucks were pulled off the road this year? Defective brakes.
Specifically, when 20% or more of a vehicle’s service brakes were inoperative — a violation that triggered 1,199 out-of-service orders, accounting for 52.2% of all brake-related shutdowns.
Let’s call that what it is: a leadership failure, not just a maintenance one.
Because at that point, the issue isn’t whether the brakes worked yesterday — it’s whether your internal systems are structured to catch failures before inspectors do.
Other violations included:
⭐ 375 miscellaneous brake issues
⭐ 306 brake hose or tubing problems
⭐ 199 steering axle violations
⭐ 100 air-loss rate failures
Each of these issues was completely preventable with consistent inspections, documented follow-through, and a leadership culture that rewards attention to detail — not shortcuts.
The Focus That Caught Fleets Off Guard: Drums and Rotors
Each year, CVSA picks a special inspection focus. In 2025, it was drums and rotors — a part of the braking system that rarely gets headline attention but can make or break stopping performance.
Inspectors found 113 violations related to drums and rotors, taking 39 trucks out of service on the spot.
Why it matters for executives: damaged or corroded rotors and drums aren’t just wear-and-tear. They’re warning signs of delayed maintenance schedules, rushed inspections, or untrained technicians — all of which point back to management decisions.
A single cracked rotor can turn a $300 part replacement into a $30,000 accident liability. Leaders who think of maintenance as a cost center instead of a protection plan often learn this the hard way.
When “Looks Fine” Fails
For the first time in several states, inspectors also used Performance-Based Brake Testers (PBBT) — machines that measure actual braking performance instead of visual cues.
Out of 528 trucks tested, 25 (4.7%) failed to meet the minimum required 43.5% braking efficiency — even though many passed visual inspection.
This is a big shift for leadership teams. Because it means inspections aren’t about appearances anymore. You can’t pass by eyeballing equipment; you pass by proving measurable performance.
That’s the kind of accountability top-performing fleets are already preparing for — using data, systems, and training to make sure “it looks good” actually means “it performs safely.”
Brake Safety Week: A Mirror for Leadership
Brake Safety Week isn’t about punishing companies. It’s about reflecting how well they lead.
If you manage fleets, you know that the difference between passing and failing isn’t found in the shop — it’s found in your culture.
Because great companies don’t just check boxes. They check habits.
If 15% of fleets failed, that’s not a problem with drivers. It’s a failure of process, communication, and accountability — things that start at the top.
The best-run companies don’t just prepare for inspections; they operate like every day is an inspection.
What Great Leaders Are Doing Differently
At Eclipse DOT, we’ve helped hundreds of companies get off the “inspection rollercoaster.”
The top-performing fleets we work with all share three key traits:
⭐ They invest in training that sticks.
⭐ They treat compliance as part of leadership, not an afterthought.
⭐ They audit themselves before anyone else does.
Here’s what they’re using to make it happen:
Train the Trainer Bootcamp
Most companies think training drivers is enough — but the real opportunity lies in training your trainers.
Our ELDT Train the Trainer Bootcamp equips your in-house leaders to run CDL programs that actually build confidence and accountability. It’s hands-on, interactive, and tailored for the real world — because PowerPoints don’t stop violations.
When your trainers understand why compliance matters, they build drivers who take ownership of safety instead of just memorizing rules.
Mock Audits & Compliance Coaching
Want to know what an FMCSA inspector will find before they do?
We’ll tell you.
Our mock audits replicate real inspections so your team can spot gaps early. You’ll walk away with a clear roadmap of what to fix — before it costs you. Think of it as your compliance “dress rehearsal.”
Companies that run annual mock audits see significantly fewer violations and dramatically higher inspection pass rates.
DOTDocs™ — The Digital Backbone of Compliance
If your DOT files still live in filing cabinets or shared drives, you’re already behind.
DOTDocs™ organizes every document — driver qualification files, inspection reports, maintenance logs, and training certifications — in one secure, digital dashboard.
That means when inspectors come knocking, you’re ready with a single click — not a frantic search through mismatched folders.
Free DOT Micro Audit
Want a quick, pressure-free way to see where your fleet stands?
Our Free DOT Micro Audit gives you a snapshot of your current compliance health. It’s fast, factual, and eye-opening — the perfect starting point for leaders who want to fix small problems before they grow into big ones.
The Cost of Doing Nothing
When a vehicle goes out of service, it’s not just the mechanic’s problem — it’s your P&L’s problem.
Industry studies estimate that fleet downtime costs between $400 and $700 per day, per vehicle. Add in lost revenue, missed deadlines, and rescheduled shipments, and the cost multiplies fast.
For companies managing 50, 100, or 500 vehicles, the financial impact of even a small percentage of failed inspections is staggering.
Now add the reputational cost — clients don’t forget when shipments are late or safety scores dip.
Brake Safety Week is a reminder that leadership decisions on training, systems, and accountability directly affect profitability.
Leadership Is the Ultimate Brake System
Here’s the truth: brakes don’t fail overnight — and neither does compliance.
When leadership loses focus, systems loosen. When communication breaks down, accountability slips. When budgets get tight, training gets pushed aside.
Before long, what used to be “tight operations” becomes “fingers crossed for inspection week.”
Real leadership means noticing the warning signs before the lights start flashing. It means tightening your organizational bolts, investing in your people, and building systems that outlast turnover or schedule chaos.
That’s what we call Effortless Compliance — and it’s what EclipseDOT helps companies build every single day.
Your Next Move
Next year’s Brake Safety Week is already scheduled for August 23–29, 2026.
That gives your company nearly a full year to prepare — not by working harder, but by working smarter.
Here’s where to start:
✅ Schedule a Free DOT Micro Audit to understand where you stand today.
✅ Enroll your key trainers in the Train the Trainer Bootcamp to empower your in-house leadership.
✅ Move your compliance files to DOTDocs™ to eliminate paperwork chaos.
✅ Run a mock audit before your next inspection.
Because the fleets that win next year won’t be the ones that work the hardest — they’ll be the ones that prepare the smartest.
Brake Safety Week 2025 was never about bad brakes. It was about leadership under pressure — who plans ahead, who takes ownership, and who keeps their fleet rolling when others stall out.
If you’re ready to lead smarter, safer, and stronger — EclipseDOT is ready to help.
We don’t just help you pass inspections.
We help you build a culture that never fails one.